In answer to the prayers of a poor man, that has been praying for God to open a branch of the Christian Mission, I arrived here September 28th, after hearing a sad story from a man riding in the same carriage with me. He said there was plenty of churches and chapels, but the people were all dead. I said, by the help of God, I am going to wake them up.
.Brother Wood met me at the station, caught hold of my hand and said you are Mr Cadman; I answered yes. He said I knew it was, I saw you in my dream and his heart leaped for joy. He took me to see his wife, and we had prayer together and God blessed us; we then had a cup of tea and it being 7 p.m., went out and viewed the city. God promised to give me the victory, Hallelujah! We then had a prayer meeting in a cottage. The next night I preached on the pier after being about all day inviting the people to come. By this time the news had spread and many people came to hear me. One man had been a Christian for two years, but had gone to sleep; he got so woke up that he could not eat or sleep for several days - he has been with me ever since. I then invited the people into a house close by, it was soon full, the power of God came on us. Two women began to cry for mercy. I was near the fireplace so we had the fender for a penitent form.
The Sunday services were announced by the Bellman. I held three open-air meetings, and three in St. Hilda's Music Hall; seven souls at night.
I have taken the Old Town Hall for week-night meetings, but it is not large enough. We hold open-air meetings every night and have a procession. Many people that follow cannot get in. The announcement that I then got out by bills was this,
WAR! WAR! IN WHITBY.
2 ,0 0 0 MEN AND WOMEN
Wanted at once to join the Hallelujah Army,
That is making an attack on the Devil's Kingdom every Sunday in
ST. HILDA'S HALL at 11 a.m., 3 and 6:30 p.m.
And every weeknight in the Old Town Hall at 7:30.
To be led by CAPTAIN CADMAN from London, Evangelist of the Christian l\fission.
Crowds of fishermen and jet workers came to the services on Sunday, October 7th and soon there were 30 down at the penitent form; 25 got up and professed to have found peace with God. This so alarmed the people that they came from other places of worship to see what it was like and thank God some of them caught the fire and cried aloud for a clean heart.
We have a holiness meeting every Friday, and many Christians look to it, as a feast time and many have obtained sanctification.
Our hall is filled every night with men and women that never attended a place of worship till I came and now there is such a crush to hear the gospel that they carry each other into the hall.
On the 5th of November, while in an open-air meeting, and hundreds listening to us,a shower of fireworks came in to the ring, frightening many of the people, and set fire to a woman's shawl. Many of the squibs came into our faces while marching in the procession to the hall; our members stood 'like the brave with their faces to the foe." One night a man got on his knees behind me to throw me on my back while leading the procession, but another seeing him, kicked him into the gutter. When I first came, a gentleman that I was introduced to, said we had made a mistake in coming to Whitby, but thank God in six weeks seventy-five have professed to be saved, and many Christians are thanking God for the Mission fire. ·
From, 'The Christian Mission Magazine,' December 1877, page 319.
Sunday, 11th. Hard fighting through the day, the streets filled with people. Our hall, that holds 1,000, was soon full. Mr Booth spoke with power, Mrs Booth gave a short address, and ten souls were saved. One was a big backslider; for some time he had been smitten with the power of God, but would not yield. He went out of the hall, but could not get away-the Spirit said to him " Stop!" Mr Booth found him on the stairs, and led him to the penitent form, where he soon found peace. Now he is a useful man with us. Mr Booth was called suddenly back to London but sent his son, Mr Bramwell, who came on the 14th and stayed for Sunday, which was a day of remarkable hard fighting and solemn feeling. \Ve expected a great smash-sinners were cut to the heart, but would not yield. On Monday the victory was won, and the devil defeated, twenty-six men and women came boldly out to the penitent form, cried for mercy, and God soon set them at liberty. During the three weeks that has followed, we have had 160 souls. Some of the worst men and women in the town.
From, 'The Christian Mission Magazine,' January 1878, pages 14/15
What is the meaning of this excitement?" asked the porters at the station on the night of February 22nd. "Oh! " says a bystander," it is Captain Cadman and his army! come to meet Miss Booth, who is going to preach in the Congress Hall. The train arrived, and at the sight of Miss Booth there was a great stir on the platform all crushing forward to get a look at her. "What's. the matter? said Miss Booth, seeing such a crowd. " Oh," I said, "this is our army come to sing you into the battlefield." We walked with her up to her lodgings, the army singing all the way. They then formed a ring outside the house, singing, "There are angels hovering round."
On Saturday great excitement in the Market Place, hundreds of people from town and country arrived to see Brother Wessburg and myself wIth a ladder, bucket of paste, and a roll of paper. " What are they going to do? " was the cry and their curiosity was aroused when they saw us putting letters up, so large that we could only stick them up one at a time. A large muster; the police having to keep the way clear to the market. It took us nearly an hour to complete what was then the largest advertisement ever seen in Whitby. At the same time the crier's bell might be heard and his clear voice announcing these services in real mission style. On Sunday large processions as usual, and people from all parts came to the meetings. The large hall, which holds 3,000, was well filled, and in the after-service, many souls were brought to Jesus. Large congregations every night during the week; souls saved. On Friday night MIiss Booth spoke on Holiness; many from other places of worship were with us, and at the penitent form many sought mercy, and some were awakened to the fact that they had only the form of godliness. One young woman, a member of a Christian Church, really screamed for mercy; the Lord soon set her free, and when Miss B. asked her If It was a reality, she answered, "Oh, yes, Jesus saves me now." At the same time her father was saved at the other end of the penitent form. As soon as he was told his daughter was saved he went to her; she was sitting in a chair praising God for what he had done for her; he fell down on his knees and put' his arms round her neck and kissed her with tears running down his cheeks, he then dropped his head into her lap and they wept together. Many others that night stepped into liberty and praised God for what he had done for them.
Sunday, March 3rd.- town was all alive, whilst our army in grand muster was singing, "Soldiers fighting round the Cross,&c.," commencing at the extreme end of the town, and carrying before it and after it hundreds of people, until the large hall was packed with all classes, many not being able to obtain admittance. Miss Booth was listened to with breathless attention. In the after service we drew the net to land, having a multitude of fishes, and amongst them we found we had caught a fox hunter, a dog fancier, drunkards, a Roman Catholic, and many others. The week-night services went on as usual, souls saved every night. The proprietor of the hall had got some large bills out announcing "Troupe of Arctic Skaters in the Congress Hall for a week! " I expected we had lost the use of the hall for that week, but the proprietor put them off by telling them it was no use their coming as "all the town was being evangelized."
Sunday, 10th.-Packed as usual; many souls brought to God.
Sunday, 17th.- A remarkable day, grand procession in the morning and large congregation inside.
A heavy snowstorm raged all the afternoon, but our army was undaunted- we met at the appointed place. as usual, though covered with snow and snow-balled, we were all in our glory singing "We'll stand the storm, it won't be long, we will anchor bye and bye," and drawing a grand congregation." At night, Hall packed as usual and many souls were saved.
Sunday, 24th, was to be Miss Booth's farewell services (but she stayed another week), drawing great crowds from all parts of town and country, rich and poor, until the hall was so filled, there was no standing room- 30 converts at the close of the service.
...Friday- Holiness meeting. After Miss Booth's address, we formed a large ring in the centre of the hall which brought the power! down upon us; hundreds looked on in astonishment and tears in their eyes, whilst others gave themselves fully to God, ar:d were glor1ously saved.
Sunday, 31lst.-Miss Booth's last Sunday with us, large procession all day, crowded hall and some of our great opponents brought to Christ and joined the army. On Wednesday, Miss Booth met with us to give a short address to the young converts. and to take a farewell of us, and I can say with one of old the best wine ran last. Farewell hymns were sung and we had a review of the army, old and young soldiers passing before and shaking bands with Miss Booth.
From, 'The Christian Mission Magazine', May 1878, pages 124-6.
Since I have been in the town we have had 800 or 900 souls for Jesus. Everybody sings our hymns. I have sold thousands of our books. You can hear the fishermen singing them as they go out in their boats and the jet workers in their factories.
From, 'The Christian Mission Magazine', September 1878, pages 233.
After a fantastic start, things seem to have gone backwards, but by the end of 1879 the work was progressing again.
For future reports see, 'The War Cry' which began January 1880.
The Congress Hall was soon taken for meetings, holding 3,000.